Means for detecting leaks in gas-mains



(No Model.)

G. WBSTINGHOUSE, Jr.

MEANS POR DBTBGTING LEAKS 1N GAS MAlNls. No. 312,542;

S E .S S E N H W.

ATTORNEY.

N. PETERS. Pmwuumgmpher. wamingtan. 0.a

ihvrTEn ,STATES PATENT EEICE.

GEORGE VVESTNGHOUSE, JR., OF PITISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR DETECTING'LEAKS IN GASf-NIAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,542, dated February 17, 1885.

Application filed January 2l, IP55A (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WEsTING- HoUsE, Jr., acitizen ofthe United States,resid ing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Detecting Leaks in Gas- Mains, of which improvements the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings,whicl1 make part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section th rough an underground gas-main with my improvements applied, and Fig. 2 a transverse section through the same at the center of the detector-pipe.

My present invention relates to improvements of the class exemplified in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 306,556, granted and issued to me under date ofOctober 14, 1884; and its object is to enable leakage within a determined length of an underground gas-main to be indicated by a single detectorpipe, and access of gas leaking from the main to buildings contiguous thereto to be prevented.

My invention, generally stated, consists in the combination, with an underground gasmain, of a bed or partial casing of material substantiallyimpervious to the passage of gas at 'low pressure, a superposed packing having a continuous series of intercommunicating interstices, and a detector-pipe leading from said packing to a point above the surface of the ground; also, in the combination, with an underground gas-main, of abcd or partial casing of material substantially impervious to the passage of gas at low pressure, a superposed packing having intercommunicating inter-` stices, a detector-pipe leading from said packing to a point above the surface of the ground, and a partition of material substantially impervious to low-pressure gas extending from the casing to or near the surface of theground.

The improvements claimed are hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the practice of my invention the gas-main 1 is laid in a bed, 15, of clay, cement, tar-paper, or4 other material which will oppose greater resistance to the passage of gas than the earth in which it is inclosed, said bed surrounding the main on its bottom and on its sides to or near its center, and that portion of the main which projects above the bed is inclosed in aloose packing, 16, of broken stone,

extending over any desired lengths ofthe main by partitions 17 ,of material which will, similarly tothat ofthe bed 15, oppose substantial resistance to the passage of gas, said partitions extending upwardly from the bed 15 toward the surface of the ground. A detector and escape pipe, 4, extends from the packing 16 to a point above thelevel of the ground, at which it may be conveniently accessible to an inspecter, said pipe affording an avenue for the escape of gas that may leak into the packing, the presence of which can be readily detected by the application of a light to the open end of the detector-pipe. The packing 16 may be readily removed and thereafter replaced, as required for the stoppage of leaks that may be evidenced by testing the detector-pipes, one of which is provided for each section of the packing in the length of the main.

To guard against the penetration of gas leaking from the main into buildings adjacent thereto, vertical leakage-guards 17, of material which will oppose resistance to thepassage of gas-as clay, cement, tar-paper, Stamay be located along one or both sides ofthe main for such portions of the length thereof as may extend adjacent to buildings, said leakageguards extending from the bed 15 for a greater or less distance toward the surface of the ground. The resistance opposed by the leakage-guards will cause the gas that may pass into the earth above the main to escape therefrom .on the side of the guard farthest from the building,in lieu of permitting the same to pass freely through the earth toward the same, as would otherwise be the case.

I claim herein as my invention- IOO l. The combination, With an underground gasfmain, of a continuous bed or partial casing of material opposing a greater resistance to the passage of gas than the earth through which the main passes, and inclosing the lower and side portions of the main, a packing of material having interconimnnicating interstices or spaces. said packing extending continuously for a determined length of the main and inclosing the main above the bed, and a detector-pipe leading from said packing to a point above the surface of the ground, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with an underground gasnlain, of a continuous bed or partial casing of material opposing a greater resistance to the passage of gas than the earth through which the main passes,Y and inclosing the lower and side portions of the main, a packing of material having interoommunieating interstices or spaces, said packing extending continuously for a determined length of the lnain and inolosing the main above the bed, a leakageguard of material of analogous character to that of the bed and extending vertically there from outside ofthe snperposed packing, and a detector-pipe leading from the packing to a point above the level of the ground, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

GEO. WESTINGHOUSE, JR.

Witnesses:

J. SNOWDEN BELL, R. H. XVHITTLEsEY. 

